BVUSD Amends and Votes on Budget Advisory Committee and Superintendent Recommended Budget Cuts

Big Bear, CA, February 29, 2012, 3:00pm – Tuesday evening’s Special Board meeting of the Bear Valley Unified School District’s Board of Trustees was scheduled to discuss and vote on the budget recommendations suggested by the Budget Advisory Committee and Superintendent Kurt Madden with a goal of roughly $300k to eliminate from the school budget.  Several community members in attendance spoke on behalf of the line item that recommended eliminating the three part-time library clerks at each elementary school.  As 5^th grader, Esther Lopez suggested, North Shore Elementary librarian Julie Nettlebeck “encourages you to read and everyone wants that, don’t you?”  With the District deficient spending one million dollars a year, continued severe budget cuts from Sacramento with more on the way, plans for a Parcel Tax to benefit our schools on the horizon for the voters of Big Bear and the need to find a solution sooner than later, there seems to be more questions than answers at this crossroads.  As Board President Randy Putz commented, as cuts get closer and closer to the bone, the cuts are all painful.  He continued to state that “we’ve received comments on every item we’ve talked about cutting and if we listen to any one person, we can’t make any cuts, but we have to”.  Additional questions arose in regards to a utility use reduction of $60k that would require an adjust to the current year-round school calendar.  Board trustee Paul Zamoyta  suggested a community meeting be held in regards to getting feedback from parents about changing the school calendar.  After much discussion the motion was made by board trustee Dr. Al Waner to reduce the library clerks budget cut from $35k to $12k and to determine how that cut would be put into action with the recommendation being made across all school sites instead of only the three elementary schools.  Additional budget cuts agreed upon included a reduction to transportation funding of  $100k, a $60k utility reduce reduction,  $8k cut to the Student Attendance/Safety Officer position, a $115k reduction in district services, a $10k reduction to the deferred maintenance budget, a $10k cut to the maintenance and operations budget and a $5k reduction in fields maintenance for a total of $320k.  As Zamoyta stated, “budget decisions will become more and more painful along the way.  This is just $300k – we still have $2.7 million to go”.  The next regularly scheduled BVUSD board meeting will held on Wednesday, March 7^th at 6:30pm at the District offices on Moonridge Road.  Meetings are open to the public.

Big Bear City Resident, Jakeb Hume, Arrested on Strong-Armed Robbery

Big Bear, CA, February 29, 2012, 1:00pm – Shortly after 3:00 a.m. yesterday morning, deputies of the Big Bear Sheriff’s Station responded to a report of a strong-armed robbery at the Big Bear City Post Office.  An employee of a private snowplow company was plowing the parking lot of the post office when a subject identified as Jakeb Hume approached him, a resident of Big Bear City described as being a 24-year old white male.  Hume repeatedly asked the employee for a cigarette.  When the employee got out of his truck, Hume punched him on his head, face and back several times, knocking him to the ground, and took the employee’s wallet from his pocket.  Hume left the scene on foot.  Deputies conducted a check of the area and located Hume at Mt. Doble and Country Club.  Hume was taken into custody without incident.  Paramedics treated the victim at the scene.  Hume was booked at the Big Bear Jail on felony charges of robbery by force or fear.  Hume remains in custody at West Valley Detention Center in lieu of $100,000 bail.  An arraignment hearing in this matter is set for March 1st at San Bernardino County Superior Court.

Assemblyperson Donnelly Gun Charges Filed

San Bernardino Ca, February 29, 2012 8:00 am – Last Friday the San Bernardino County district attorney filed charges on Assemblyperson Tim Donnelly relating to a January 4th incident at the Ontario International airport where he carried a loaded gun, without proper permits, into a secure area of the airport.  He was not arrested at the time but was cited for two misdemeanors gun violations.  Donnelly’s attorney appeared in court last Friday and pleaded not guilty for his client.  This incident has been characterized as an innocent mistake by Donnelly himself and has stated that the San Bernardino District Attorney as well as the Ontario Airport Police acted professionally.  Assembly person Donnelly is running for reelection, in the newly redrawn 33^rd State Assembly district his opponent is Mayor Bill Jahn of Big Bear Lake.  In a statement from the Jahn campaign Jahn supports gun ownership but emphasized that he certainly knows where his gun is and if it is loaded or not.  Donnelly will be back in court again on March 15^th.

Big Bear Lake City Council Meeting Results

Big Bear, CA, February 28, 2012, 3:00pm – The Big Bear Lake City Council, during their regularly scheduled meeting, voted to delay taking a position regarding the proposed rate increase from Bear Valley Electric Service.  Although this item was initially put on the agenda as a consent item it was pulled and tabled for a later date allowing Mayor Bill Jahn who was absent at the meeting to participate in the discussion as well as giving an opportunity for Bear Valley Electric Service to present their position on the proposed increase.  A date when this item will be returned to City Council will be announced later.  The City Council also received a report on the multi-million dollar rebuilding project for the Big Bear Lake Village L area.  Although the City’s Improvement Agency was dismantled as a move to rescue the states budget crisis this was one of the projects that had prior approval.  This project will be completed without additional assessments to property owners.  The project will completely reconstruct the Big Bear Village in four phases beginning on April 2^nd and completing perhaps as early as late September.  Construction will include all new streets and related lighting, additional trees, street signs, pavers, two outdoor fire pits, curbs, gutters and sidewalks.  Within each phase of the construction only one section and side of the street will be effected allowing for one way traffic and to be open at all times.  Heavy construction will be limited to mornings and evenings and no construction will be done beginning Friday afternoon through Sunday.  David Lawrence, City Engineer working with Lyle Hayes IA Director, has two public meetings scheduled on March 8^th and 15^th to discuss the impacts to the Village businesses.  In addition they intend to use every measure possible to communicate with the businesses and let everyone else know that these businesses will be open during the construction.  According to City Manager Jeff Mathieu once this and other IA projects such as this are completed the day and age of redevelopment for this and other cities in California will come to a final end.

Bear Valley Electric Service Applies for Rate Increase to the Public Utilities Commission

Big Bear, CA, February 28, 2012, 3:00pm – Bear Valley Electric Service has begun the process of presenting a rate case to the California Public Utilities Commission.  In the Rate Case Application they are proposing a 7.79 % increase to be reflected sometime in 2013 on ratepayers bills.  In the application they are also proposing to reduce the rate by 5.5% in 2014 once the under-collection procurement costs have been completed.  In their application they have stated that the current rates are not sufficient to cover increasing costs to provide electrical service in Big Bear.   If they are granted a rate increase they intend to use the money for the following areas: 1. Improve transmission and distribution systems, 2. Underground existing overhead lines on Big Bear Boulevard, 3. Establish a new program to provide rebates for installation of residential solar equipment, and finally 4. Add two technical Staff positions to comply with various governmental regulations.  The last rate review was in 2008, which covered the years of 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.  In that rate case the Public Utilities Commission required that Bear Valley Electric Service file a General Rate Case Application every four years. More details of this rate increase will become available for public comment, as the PUC public hearing process is set into action.  The Big Bear Lake City Council will have a chance to take an official position on this rate change at a future date.  Once released, KBHR will announce the dates and places where the rate hearings will take place.

BVUSD Special Workshop Tonight to Vote on BAC/Superintendent Recommended Cuts to Budget

Big Bear, February 28, 2012, 7:00am – The Bear Valley Unified School District’s Board of Trustees will meet tonight for a Special Board meeting at the District offices at 42271 Moonridge Road with the open session beginning at 5:30pm. The sole agenda item is for the board to vote on the Budget Advisory Committee and Superintendent Kurt Madden’s budget reduction recommendations as outlined at the last workshop meeting on February 24^th. Items for consideration submitted by BAC include a reduction to transportation funding of $100k, $35k for part-time library clerks at the three elementary schools and a $60k utility reduce reduction. In addition to these suggestions, Mr. Madden is also recommending an $8k cut to the Student Attendance/Safety Officer position, a $115k reduction in district services, a $10k reduction to the deferred maintenance budget, a $10k cut to the maintenance and operations budget and a $5k reduction in fields maintenance for a total of $343k. Board meetings are open to the public.

San Bernardino DMV Office To Close For Renovations

Sacramento, CA, February 27, 2012, 4:00pm - The California Department of Motor Vehicles has announced that the San Bernardino office located on North Waterman Avenue will be closing at noon on Friday, March 30 for renovations. As a result of the closure, six nearby offices will open an hour earlier each day beginning Monday, April 2 to accommodate local customers. The $2.6 million renovation, which will take 18 months to complete, includes structural reinforcements, larger lobby space for customers, and improved energy efficiencies. Beginning April 2, nearby field offices in East Riverside, Riverside, Norco, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, and Redlands will open at 7:00 am.

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Big Bear Lake City Council Meets Tonight

Big Bear Lake, CA, February 27, 2012, 8:00am - The Big Bear Lake City Council will hold their regularly scheduled meeting tonight at 6:30pm in Hofert Hall. On the agenda council will receive a report on the Village Streetscape Project Construction, and the related public communications plan, which will outline a plan to inform the local business community, residents and visitors of the scheduled construction. Council will also consider approving a resolution regarding forgiving loans to and from public bodies as required by a section of the Health and Safety Code. The public is encouraged to attend the meeting, and may speak during public comment time.

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BVUSD Board of Trustees Work to Identify School Budget Reductions

Big Bear, CA, February 27, 2012, 7:00am – Last Friday evening’s Special Board Workshop meeting of the Bear Valley Unified School District’s Board of Trustees continued discussion of the state’s budget crisis that has trickled down to our community and could greatly effect our children’s education.  How big of an impact that will be on the BVUSD budget is a moving target.  Walter Con, Director of Business Services, indicated in a 2^nd interim discussion presentation, total budget cuts could potentially equate to almost $1.8 million dollars including the elimination of the cost of living adjustment funding as well as home to school transportation.  However, the Governor’s proposed state budget recommendations keep changing and one of the unknowns is what the outcome will be for the Governor’s proposed $7 billion dollar tax-initiative, Prop 98, that will be presented to voters on the November ballot.  Regardless, budget cuts have to be assumed with the possibility to restore reductions if possible.  Significant budget assumptions made include recommendations from the Budget Advisory Committee and Superintendent as well as employee concessions and reductions in force.  According to Con, the short-term goal is for a positive certification at the 2^nd interim with the ultimate goal of eliminating deficient spending.  The 2^nd interim report will be released on March 12^th.  The District is currently spending about $1 million a year over budget and, thus, using reserve dollars that ultimately, in the three year outlook, has put our District in a qualified certification position.  Absent any action in the budget, according to Con, will bankrupt the District in the third year.  In his opinion, Mr. Con stated, “we need to look at permanent salary rollbacks for all employees”.  The final item discussed at Friday’s meeting was the budget reduction recommendations of the Budget Advisory Committee and Superintendent Kurt Madden.  The Budget Advisory Committee, or BAC, is suggesting reducing transportation funding by $100,000 with the assumption that transportation funding is not eliminated in the 2012-2013 school year.  Additional BAC budget reduction suggestions include $35k for all three part-time library clerks at the three elementary schools and a $60k utility reduce reduction created by closing all sites during the month of July beginning in 2013 and to adjust the school calendar to close all sites in the months of July and August beginning in 2014.  Additional suggestions made by Mr. Madden include an $8,000 cut to the Student Attendance/Safety Officer position by means of a reduced work calendar or some equivalent action, a $115k reduction in district services to include the elimination of one vacant position and reduction in days for three positions, a $10k reduction to the deferred maintenance budget, a $10k cut to the maintenance and operations budget and, lastly, a $5k reduction in fields maintenance for a total of $343,000.  The board will meet on Tuesday, February 28^th at 5:30pm at the District Offices on Moonridge Road to vote on these recommendations in a Special Board Workshop meeting.

Great weather as 300 participate in “Snow Shoe The Bear 2012″

Big Bear Lake, CA, February 26, 2012, 4:00pm – Congratulations to everyone who came for the adventure and ran the 2012 Snowshoe the Bear! Here’s the list of winner’s in the various categories of the 10K and 5K races.

10k Mens

1. Adam Williams, Big Bear Lake, CA
2. David Caballero, Big Bear Lake, CA
3. Alejandro Caballero, Big Bear Lake, CA

10k Womens

1. Kristine Keever, Topanga, CA
2. Rachael Ghrist, Big Bear City, CA
3. Melissa Cabrerra, Santa Monica, CA

5k Mens

1. Cougar Shelton, Big Bear Lake, CA
2. Andrew Moore, Pittsburgh, PA
3. Dan McKernan, Big Bear Lake, CA

5k Womens

1. April Jacobsen, Simi Valley, CA
2. Jody Barrett, Big Bear City, CA
3. Meredith Brandon, Sugarloaf, CA

5k Jr. Men (12 and under)

1. Alec Burton, Big Bear Lake, CA
2. Connor Cook, Rancho Mirage, CA
3. Zach Burton, Big Bear Lake, CA

5k Jr. Women (12 and under)

1. Marina Shelton, Big Bear City, CA
2. Sabrina Martinez, Mission Viejo, CA
3. Sierra Castaldi, Big Bear Lake, CA

10k GRIZZLY Men (50+)
1. Bill Prentice, Pasadena, CA
2. Kurt Madden, Big Bear Lake, CA
3. Dave Baumgartner, Duarte, CA

10K GRIZZLY Women (50+)
1. Sally Martin, Big Bear Lake, CA
2. Lorraine Bennett, San Diego, CA
3. Kathy Portie, Big Bear Lake, CA

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